Improvement in machines for printing on cans



3 Sheets-Sheet 1 I. B. WEAVER.

MACHINE FOR PRINTING on CANS. No. 177,182. Patented May 9,1876.

N. PETERS, FHOTO-LJTHOGRAPHER.WASHINGTON.

s Sheets-Sh eet 2.

MACHINE FOR PRINTING 0N CANS. No. 177,182. Patented May 9,1876.

NJETERS, PHOTO-UTHOGRAPHER. WASHINGTON. 0. C4

3 Sh eets-Sheet 3.

J. B. WEAVER. MACHINE FOR PRINTING 0N CANS.

Patented May 9,1876.

N PETERS. FHOTO-LITHOGRAPNER. WASHINGTON, D C.

PATENT rFIoE;

JAGOBI B. WEAVER, OF BALTIMORE,.MARYLAND.

IMPROVEMENT IN" MACHlNES F OR'" PRINTING ON CLANS.

Specification formingpart ofLetters Patent No. 177,182,.dated May 9, 1876; application filed April13; 1876. v

ments in Machines for, Printing on Cans, and- I do hereby declare that thefollowing, is a full, clear,and exact description thereof, refer-' ence being had to the accompanying drawings and'jto the letters of reference marked thereon, which form apart of this specification.

The object of my inventionis toiprovide an efficient machine, for printing inv colors directly upon the surface of tin cans, or other perfectly cylindrical packages, .containingpreserved fruits, &c., thusdispensingwith theordinary paper labels, which are liable to become detached; and it consists in the construction and arrangement of the-various devices forming parts of the apparatus, as will be more fully hereinafter described, and distinctly pointed out in the claims.

In the annexed drawings, Figure l represents a view of the upper surface of a machine constructed' according to my invention. Fig. 2 is a front or side elevation of the same, and Figs. 3 and 4 are end elevations.

A represents the table which supports the operating mechanism. B is an inclined railway, upon which the cans roll after having received a coating of paint or varnish preparatory to printing, and B is a movable printingboard or inclined railway, upon which are secured suitable elastic types b b b b. By means of the adjustable slides a a the table and inclined railway above referred to may be extended front and back, and adjusted according to the size of the cans to be printed upon. At each end of the table are suitable standards or bearings a. for supporting the rockshaft 0 and crank-shafts (1 cl. An additional bearing for the crank-shaft d is furnished by 'the upright center-piece O, which also supports the color-plates c c c c. v

The center-piece (l is made separate from the table, and may be adjusted in any desired position. Immediately in front of the centerpiece is a stationary roller, D, for receiving the colors from the plates 0 and distributing them to the gum inking-rollers E E, which are connected by pitmen t i with the arms of the crank-shaft d. Two distributing-rollers may be used, if desired. All therollers are" grooved, as shownat p, in order to prevent the colorsfrom mixingtogether At the up-. per end, of the inclined railway B is: a trough,

F, for holding the paint, shellac, or japan colors, which may be used'for coating. the I sides of the cans before; printing, upon them.

After thedesired color has been applied to thecan, previously filled and sealed, it, is placed,

upon the inclined railway B, and [113416170 :pass beneath the oscillating brush, f, which isattached to the rock-shaft e'for the purpose-of evenly distributing, the color and removingany superfluous quantity. A fender, G, is-attachedto the inclined railway over and around.

er. is provided at the bottomwith'channels,- which-may be arranged. so asto eonductthe' waste paint back to. the; trough. The. can,

having received this preparatory coating of paint, shellac, or japan color, continues to roll down the inclined railway B by its own gravity, together with that of its contents, and is received upona table placed for that purpose, or may be run directly on the circular railway H to the printing board B. generally employed will dry rapidly, the latter course may often be adopted with advantage. v

By turning the crank d, the shaft -of which carries the cog-wheel g, motion is transmitted thence to the large cog-wheel h on the crankshaft d, and through it to the cog-wheel g on the shaft of the distributing-roller D. The arms of the crank-shaft d are connected by pitmeu M with the shafts of the inking-rollers E E. and by another pitman, k, with the lever I, the latter being also connected, by means of connecting-rods l m, with the arm of the rock-shaft e and with the compound lever K. This compound lever operates the movable printingboard B, which is pivoted at one end to the table, while its free end is supported by the lever, so as to cause it to rise, .for the purpose of receiving ink from the rollers E E, which pass. over the faces of the elastic types 2;, and prepare them for giving the desired impression to the sides of the can. As the crank-shafts d cl revolve, the inking-rollers As the colors theirimpression. When the rollers E E have passed over the distributingroller D, and returned to their former position, the printingboard has been again raised by the compound 'lever K, and the types are thus supplied with ink for printing the next can, which will roll over them, as before described, as soon as the printing-board again falls into an inclined position. The rock-shaft e, to which is attached the brush f, is also operated at the same time by means of the lever I and connecting-rod l. A fly-wheel, M, is placed upon the crank-shaft d for the purpose of equalizing the motion.

It is obvious that, by employing the requisite number of elastic type, cans, or other cylindrical packages, may be printed upon in a variety of colors, at small expense, and in a convenient, neat, and expeditious manner.

The types are composed ofguttapercha, gum,

or other sutable elastic material, and must be attached to the type-board at proper dis tances, depending on the diameter of the can, so that it will make one revolution for each impression. Strong-colored printers inks are preferably employed, together with a small quantity of beeswax, which prevents the colors from checking or running together, and japan-driers may be used to facilitate drying.

I claim as my invention- 1. The combination, with the table A, of the adjustable center-piece G, inclined railway B,

circular railway H, and movable printingboard B, having elastic types I) b, substantially as and for the purpose herein described,

2. The adjustable center (3, supporting the color-plates c c, in combination with the crankshaft d, pitmen i i, distributing roller or rollers D, and gum inking-rollers E E, substantially as set forth.

3. The inclinedrailway B, paint-trough F, and fender G, in combination with the rock shafte and brushf, substantially as herein described. j

4. The crank-shafts d d and gearing 'g h g, in combination with the distributing roller or rollers D, gum inking-rollers E E, leversI K, rock-shaft e, connecting-rods l m, and pitmen i i, substantially as and for the purpose herein described. j I

3. The apparatus for printing on cans, herein described, consisting in the combination, with the adjustable inclined railway B and printing-board B, of the oscillating brush f,

one or more distributing rollers, D, and gum inking-rollers E E, with suitable operating mechanism, said printing-board being provided with elastic types b b, and arranged to rise for the purpose of inking the type, and then fall to allow the cans to roll over its surface, substantiallyas set forth.

' In testimony whereof I have hereunto af-- fixed my signature this 11th day of April, 1876, in presence of two witnesses.

J AGOB BELVILLE WEAVER. 

